Heat controlling system



Jan. 12, 1937. P. R. owENs HEAT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. l5. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet L Jan. 12, 1937. RR OWEN-S Re. 20,240

HEAT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Original Filed Jan, 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES HEAT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Percy R. Owens, Scarsdale, N. Y., assigner, by

direct and mesne assignments, to Warren Webster & Company, Camden, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original No. 1,812,897, dated July 7, 1931, Serial No. 81,465, January 15, 1926. Application for reissue October 1'7, 1935, Serial No. 45,500

9 Claims.

This invention relates to heat controlling and regulating systems and'more particularly to systems for regulating the quantity of heating medium flowing through conduits, such as for example the steam mains of heating plants of buildings, to provide the desired heating suitable for the time of day or as necessitated by the prevailing temperatures.

In accordance with this invention a control valve cutout member is arranged in a source of supply for controlling the heat supplying medium which may comprise any of the usual fluid mediums, such as steam, hot air, hot water, or may comprise a current owing through an electrical conductor or conduit, or a fuel medium such as gas or oil owing through a conduit to the heating plant. This control valve member or cutout according to the preferred example of my invention as here disclosed, is arrenged to be alternately or intermittently opened and closed, means being provided to automatically adjust or vary the frequency or length .of the intervals during which the valve is open. For example,

. during the night time less heat is required in many buildings and in accordance with this invention means are provided'for automatically reducing the quantity of heating medium flowing during any predetermined part of the day. Also, in the preferred form of the invention means are provided for thermostatically regulating the quantity of heating medium which flows, that is, the effective rate of supply, in order to -provide for changes in the prevailing temperature during both normal 4 and subnormal heating. The valve arrangement and other features described are shown by way of example and for the sake of simplicity and it will be understood that various forms of remote control valves operated by electricity, Water power or other means may be used.

The invention comprises the novel features, arrangements and combination of parts embodied by way of example in the apparatus hereinafter described as illustrating a preferred form of the invention.

Various objects, further features and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of one form of mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration showing the electrical connections for the apparatus embodying my invention and showing the invention as applied to a remote control valve operated by fluid pressure.

Figs. 5 and' 6 illustrate details of one form of a control cam member which may be embodied in my invention.

'Ihe operation and general arrangement of the entire mechanism will be first briefly described. Referring to the schematic diagram of Fig. 4, a conduit for the heating medium or supply is indicated at IIJ, a valve of any suitable type being inserted therein as lshown at II. In the system as illustrated, this valve is controlled by a pilot valve shown at I2 associated with a cylinder I3 containing a valve operating piston Il.

Mechanism hereinafter described serves to intermittently operate a contact device I5 for alterl nately opening and closing the valve II at interplace in service or remove from service a controlcam I8 and associated contact mechanism I9. 'I'he cam I 8 is designed to be rotated at a rate of one revolution per hour and with the cam shaped as illustrated in Fig. 4 it serves to actuate switching device I9 in a manner whereby the contact making device I5 will be made effective to open the valve I I only twice during each hour, whereas when the cam I8 is out of service the valve I I would be alternately opened and closed four times during each hour.

Referring to Fig. 1, a driving clock is indicated at 20 having a rotating drive shaft 2| upon which is mounted a cam member 22. 'I'he cam member 22 is rotated at a speed of one revolution per hour and the cam I 8 above referred to may be mounted upon the same shaft 2| to rotate therewith. The cam I6, however, which rotates at the rate of one revolution each 24 hours may be driven by suitable gearing connected to the shaft 2|.

The cam 22 as shown may be provided with a number of raised areas as at 23 corresponding in number to the number of times per hour that the valve Il is to be opened and closed. In this instance the number is four. Suitable means for operating the contact device I5 by the cam 22 is provided and may comprise a shaft 24 pivotally mounted in supporting side frames 25 and `26. A switch arm 21 is secured to the shaft 24 and turnstherewith. An arm 28 is provided with a ,contact roller 29 for engaging the surface of the cam 22. The arm 28 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 24, which shaft may be square or otherwise formed where it engages the arm y2li so that the shaft is caused to turn in accordance with movements of the arm 28. As the driving clock uniformly rotates the cam 22, the arm 28 will be alternately raised and lowered at regular intervals by reason of the engagement` of the roller 29 with the raised cam portions 23. Accordingly, the switch arm 21 will be actuated at intervals. j

Means will now be described for automatically adjusting the position of the arm 28 along the shaft 24 in accordance with changesof the prevailing temperature. A bulb member or other suitable container 30 is located at a' desirable point, preferably out of doors, where it is subjected to the outdoor temperatures. This bulb member is communicative with an expansible chamber 3| through suitable tubing 32. The bulb and expansible chamber, together with the tubing, may be iilled with a suitable known medium which is expansible and the volume of which is highly sensitive to temperature variations. One end.A of the expansible chamber 3| may be secured to a supporting member 32'. The supporting member 32' may be longitudinally adjustable and in the construction shown is provided with an extension at 33, having a tongue and groove engagement as at 34 (see'lig. 3), with a fixed supporting frame member 35. The longitudinal position of the support 32 in respect to the frame member 35 may be adjusted and maintained by means of a thumb screw 36 rotatably mounted within suitable supporting lug 31 and having threaded engagement at 38 with the support 32. A suitable indicator may be provided as at 39 for indicating the position of the expanslble chamber and its support in respect to the fixed base. The tubing 32 may be formed of flexible material with suitable coiled portions as shown to permit the position of the expansible chamber to be freely adjusted.

At the end of the expansible chamber opposite from the support 32 a suitable end plate member 40 may be fixed as by solder. This end plate member may be provided with a central recess 4| for receiving a spiral spring 42 which is xed therein. A lever is shown at 43 pivoted at 44 to a part oi' the frame and provided with a suitable mechanical contact button 45 engaging a. corresponding button 46 mounted at the outer end of the spring 42. The contact buttons should be so shaped as to permit the lever 43 to be turned about its pivot when the expansible chamber 3| becomes elongated, the engagement of the contact buttons being such that frictional resistance is substantially eliminated. The lever 43 at its end opposite from the contact button 45 may be slotted as at 41 for receiving a pin 48 mounted on the arm 28.` This pin and slot connection permits the arm 28 to be moved longitudinally of the cam 22 whenever the lever 43 is moved. The movements of thelever 43 in turn are controlled by the prevailing temperature which causes the expansibre chamber 3| to expand or contract. Upon an increase in temperature the 'consequent expansion of the chamber causes the lever 43 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, whereas a decrease in temperature permits a retracting spring '49, which is attached to the lever, to draw the lever around in a. clockwise direction. It will be noted that when the lever left hand end of the cam 22. engagement with the large raised areas of the 43 is turned in' a clockwise direction, the arm 28 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. It will also be noted that the raised portions 23 upon the cam member 22 vary in width from substantially a point at the right hand end of the cam, to the large areas covering the major part of the sur- A,face of the cam at its left'hand e-nd. When the lever 43 is moved in response to decreases in temperature in a clockwise direction, the arm 28 will move the contact wheel 29 over toward ,the This will cause cam and cause the contact device 21 to effect an opening of the valve for a longer interval of time, thereby admitting the heating medium to the heating system for a larger percentage of time and thus in greater quantities. Conversely, upon an increase in temperature and a counterclockwise movement of the lever 43, contact will be made with the narrower parts of the raised portions 23, which will cause the valve Il to be opened only for intervals amounting to small fractions of the total elapsed time. This reduces the supply of heating medium. A suitable stop member is shown at 5l) for limiting the counter-clockwise turning movement of the lever 43. v

Further details relating to the control cams I6 and I8 and the control circuit of Fig. 4 will now be described. The cam I6 may be fixed upon a hollow shaft (hereinafter again referred to) as by a set screwv 5|, which permits the. angular position of the cam to be adjusted a predetermined amount to fix the time of day during which subnormal heating is to be provided. Further control of this particular time of day Vduring which subnormal heating may be desired is made possible by constructing the cam I6 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. This cam may comprise a plate member 52 formed with a peripheral flange 53 extending around the portion of the periphery of the cam corresponding to the portion of the day during which normal heating is required. This flange and the adjacent portion of the plate 52 are cut away as at 54 to provide a cam area corresponding to the part of the day or 24 hours during which only subnormal .heating isI required. The respective times at which this period of subnormal heating begins and ends may both be adjusted by the use of a spring flange member 55 which is fixed at 5G midway at its ends to the cam plate and having arms extending from this fixed point to provide adjustable extensions to each end of the flange 53. These extension armsare made fast to the flange 53 by suitable thumb screws 51 which engage arcuate portions 58 of the spring arms. To advance or retard the time at which subnormal heating is initiated or restored, it is merely necessary to losen the appropriate thumb screws 51 and adjust the position of the corresponding spring arm of the member 55 which in effect elongates or contracts the flange 53.

lThe cam member I6 as above stated is arranged to turn through one complete revolution every 24 hours. To accomplish this result, a suitable gear train 59, B0, 5| and 62 driven by the driving clock may be provided. The gear 62 may be xed to a hollow shaft 53 (see Figs. 4 and 5), which is also engaged by the set screw 5I for fixing the cam I6 thereon.

The cam member I8 as above stated yrotates through one revolution per hour with the shaft 2|. A set screw B4 is provided for fixing the cam to the shaft so that/the angular position ripheral shape of this cam is such that the switch Y device I9 is held closed during one or more periods each hour, and the length of each period or 4frequency of periods of subnormal heating may be determined by the shape o'f this cam. If desired, this cam may be replaced by other cams of different shapes in case the subnormal heating is to be increased or decreased for any particular installation. In the form shown, two areas I8a and lb are provided which cooperate with the switch device I 8 for opening the valve II twice during each hour. The intervening two periods of heating which would be otherwise provided by the cam 22 are thus eliminated and subnormal heating is only effected during alternate periodsl of actuation of the switch I5.

A source of current is provided at 65 for operating pilot valve controlling solenoids 66 and 61. When the valve Il is closed, the switch arm 21 is normally in position to make contact with contact portion 68. However, when the arm 28 is raised by the action of the raised portions 23 on the cam 22, then the switch arm 21 is also raised, causing the circuit through contact 6B to be broken and a new circuit to be closed through contact 69. This circuit includes a contact device 10, solenoid 66, source of current 65 and the switching device I1 and also the switching device I9 in case subnormalfheating is in effect. Current flowing through this circuit energizes the solenoid 66 causing its armature 1I to be drawn inwardly against the action of a compression spring 12. The armature 1I is mechanically connected to the pilot valve I2 so that the pilot valve is thereupon actuated and in the position shown is drawn downwardly. As a consequence, the piston I4 as acted upon by uid pressure in the customary manner is forced upwardly for opening the valve II. The pilot valve and its armature 1I may be connected as by a rod 12 to which is attached switchioperating arm 13 for actuating a circuit closing device 14. The rod 12 is also formed with an enlarged portion 15 for receiving and engaging a locking dog 16 operated by the control magnet 61. As the armature 1I approaches its extreme lower position, the arm 13 will close the contact device 14 which is in series with the control solenoid 61, but meanwhile the locking dog 16 will be drawn by a spring 11 in a. position for hooking over the enlarged portion 15 for locking and securing the armature 1I in` its downward position with the spring 12 under compression. At the same time a switch operating arm 18 fixed upon the locking dog will release the contact making devicelll permitting the same to open its circuit. The solenoid 66 is thereupon deenergized and remains so until the next cycle of operation. The valve Il will remain in its open position until the contact arm 21 is again allowed to drop into contact with contact 68'. Thereupon a circuit is completed through contact device 14 which has already become closed and the solenoid 61 is actuated by current from the source 65. 'Ihe solenoid 61 will thus be energized causing the release of the locking dog 16 and permitting the spring 12 to raise the armature 1I and pilot valve for closing the main valve II. At the same time the circuit through the contact device 10 will be restored by the switch actuating arm 18 and will be kept closed since the locking dog 16 engages the side of the enlargement 15 and hence the spring 11 is ineffecpeated when the next raised portion 23 on the cam 22 comes into active position.

During normal heating. the contact making device I1 which comprises a spring contact arm 19 will be in a position to close the circuit through contact 80. This switch is held in this closed position so long as the switch arm is in contact with the periphery 53 of the cam I6. However, during the night time or other times when only subnormal heating is necessary thecam will come into a position withits out away portion adjacent the switch arm and at such times the resilience of the switch arm will bring the same into contact with a contact 8|. Thereupon the circuit through contact 88 will be broken and a substitute circuit will be closed through the contact 8I to the switch device I9. The device I9 may comprise a spring switch arm 82 for cooperation with a fixed contact 83. When the switch arm 82 is in engagement with the cam I8, the circuit will be closed through the contact 83 and the effect will be the same as during normal heating. However, during a predetermined portion of each hour or subnormal heating as above stated, the cam i8 will be in such positions that its cut away portions will permit the switch arm 82 to break contact with the contact 83. At such times, the circuit will be opened and although the switching device I5 may operate, it will be ineffective to then control the valve II.

It will thus be seen that a system for automatic heat regulation is provided which in this particular example comprises intermittently and alternately shutting off and admitting the supply in such a manner as to provide for both normal and subnormal heating and permitting greater or less heating as may be made necessary by changes in the prevailing outdoor temperatures. The thermostatic regulation of the mechanism may be adjusted by turning the thumb nut 36. This ad'- justment should be made in accordance with the temperature which is desired to be maintained by the heating plant. The adjustment may first be made by trial and thereafter permanent temperature graduations may be made adjacent the indicator 29.

mostatic and time controlled features of the invention areadaptable to a variety of uses and arrangements and that according to certain phases of the invention the quantity of heat supplied may be thermostatically regulated otherwise than by the use of intermittent on and off" periods.

It is not desired to limit the invention to the details and example herein described, since it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and E' aim, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such modifications.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a conduit for a heating medium, valve means controlling the quantity of heating medium owing therethrough by automatically checking and releasing the flow at intervals, and clock operated mechanism acting to render said valve means ineffective to release the flow at alternate intervals during parts of the day when reduced heating is desired.

2. Heat regulating means comprising a valve arranged for remote control, an electric control circuit therefor having a clock driven circuit breaker for effecting intermittent opening and closing movement of said valve, and mechanism operated by the same clock for reducing the frequency of intervals of operation during a predetermined portion of the day.

3. In combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a valve in said conduit, remote control means for said valve including an electrical circuit, circuit breaking means for automatically opening and closing said circuit at intervals to cause operation of said valve with a consequent checking or release of the iluid medium, a switch for maintaining said circuit in open condition during a portion of the intervals when said circuit breaker is closed, and a motor oper- .ated additional switching means for rendering said switch ineffective during predetermined portions of eachday.

4. In combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a valve in said conduit, remote control means for said valve including an electrical circuit, circuit breaking means for automatically opening and closing said circuit at intervals to cause operation of said valve with a consequent checking or release of the fluid medium, a switch operating according to an hourly cycle for reducing the number of intervals per hour during which said circuit would otherwise be closed, and additional switching means operating according to a predetermined longer cycle for throwing said iirst switch out of circuit when normal heating is desired and into circuit for subnormal heating.

5, In combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a valve in said conduit, remote control means for said valve including an electrical circuit, circuit breaking means for automatically opening and closing said circuit at relatively short intervals to cause operation of said valve with a consequent checking or release oi' the iluid medium, and switching means operating at numerous longer intervals each day according to a variable but predetermined cycle for maintaining said circuit open during a portion of said relatively short intervals when said circuit would otherwise be closed, to provide for a reduced heat supply during desired periods according to a cycle which is at leastone day 1n length.

6. In combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a valve in said conduit, remote control means for said valve-including an electrical circuit, a plurality of cams each actuating switching mechanism in said circuit, .one of said cams effecting opening and closing of said circuit at intervals of thermostatically regulated length to cause operation Voi said valve and consequent lregulation of the iiow of heating medium, one of said cams operating a switch for reducing the number' of intervals lduring which said circuit would otherwise be closed, and one of said cams operatingv according to apredetermined dailyy cycle for throwing said last named switch out of circuit when normal heating is desired..

7. Inl combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a'valve in said' conduit, remote control means for said valve including an electrical circuit, electromagnetic means in said circuit for eiecting openingiof said valve against the action of a spring, an auxiliary circuit with electromagnetic means for locking the valve open..

and circuit breaking means for alternately opening and closing respectivelysald circuit and auxiliary circuit at regulated intervals to cause operation of said valve with a consequent checking or release of the iiuid medium at corresponding intervals.

8. In combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, a valve in said conduit, remote control means for said valve including an elec-- ing intervals, and means for automatically ref ducing the number of periods during which the fluid medium is released when subnormal heating is desired.

9. InV combination, a conduit for conducting a heating medium, .a valve in said conduit, a

control circuit for said valve, a plurality ofmotor operated switchingl devices for said circuit, a thermostatic switch controlling means, one of said -devices being operatively connected withsaid controlling means and affecting said circuit. at intervals of thermostatically regulated length to cause intermittent operation of said valve and consequent regulation of the flow of heating medium, one of said devices meeting-said circuit to reduce the number of said intervals, and another of said devices acting to throw said last mentioned device into and out of operation.

PERCY R. OWENS. 

